by Amy Clipston
“Kaffi.” He did his best not to roll his eyes as he remembered the stares his shirt had caused at the market. All day long, his customers had seemed more interested in his stain than his items for sale.
Mamm’s dark eyebrows rose above her equally dark eyes. “How did you manage to spill kaffi all over this shirt?”
“It’s a long story.” He sighed as the pretty redhead’s shocked face filled his mind. What had Leanna Wengerd called her? Christine? Christina? No, it was Christiana.
Mamm shook her head as she examined the stain. “The secret to getting rid of a kaffi stain is applying warm water, dishwashing liquid, and white vinegar for fifteen minutes. I’ll take care of it.” She met his gaze again. “Now tell me this long story of yours.”
“It’s not that interesting.” Jeff folded his arms over his chest, ignoring his damp hands. “I went to the Coffee Corner to buy my usual cup of kaffi and a donut. As I was leaving, a maedel bumped into me, and my entire cup of coffee spilled. Not just on my shirt, but all over the floor. I dropped my donut too. Anyway, I spent the rest of the day trying to ignore customers’ stares. It was pretty embarrassing. I suppose I should keep a change of clothes in the booth in case of future emergencies. It was just a terrible day from the start.”
“Did you say a maedel bumped into you?” A smile spread across her lips. “Who was the maedel? Is she schee? Is she single?”
Jeff swallowed a groan. He wasn’t in the mood for one of his mother’s lectures about how he wasn’t getting any younger and needed to get over his heartache and move on before it was too late. “Was that all you heard me say, Mamm? Did you not hear that I had a really bad day?”
“I’m sorry.” She folded the shirt and slung it over her arm. “Why did you have a bad day?”
“I had to stop for supplies on my way to the market, and Ella and her husband were at the hardware store.”
Mamm waited a beat before responding. “Oh. Well, what did Ella have to say?”
He looked down at the off-white linoleum and kicked at a scuff with his shoe. His mother would always remember what happened; he knew that. But he didn’t want her to see the whole truth in his eyes. He didn’t want her to know how fiercely he still seethed at the mere sight of Ella and the man she’d married.
“She didn’t say anything. I had already made my purchases, so I just slipped out the door before they could see me. I don’t care to talk to either one of them.” He shook his head. “It just kind of set the tone for my day, though. Then I went to get kaffi and the maedel dumped it on me. I sold just four wooden signs all day long.” He looked up into his mother’s warm eyes, and guilt rolled over him. Did he have any right to complain when he had a family who cared for him?
He reached for his shirt. “I can wash my shirt. Just tell me how much dishwashing detergent and vinegar to use.”
“That’s not necessary.” Mamm pulled the shirt away from him. “I’ll do it since you don’t have anyone to do your laundry.”
Jeff felt his lips press into a thin line. Not only had he run into his ex-fiancée today, but his mother also had to remind him that he was alone in the house he’d built for her.
Could this day get any worse?
“Are you coming for supper?” Mamm gestured toward the back door. “I made your favorite—steak.”
“Ya.” Jeff raked his fingers through his thick waves and curls. “Danki.”
He followed his mother through the small mudroom, out the back door, down the porch steps, and up the path that led from his three-bedroom house to the large, four-bedroom, whitewashed house where he’d been born and raised. He glanced around the lush, green pastures of the dairy farm he and his younger brother helped their father run.
As he and Mamm approached her back porch, he looked over his shoulder at the white house he’d built for Ella. Had his father’s farm and the house he’d built not been good enough for her? What did John Lantz have that Jeff didn’t?
These questions had haunted him ever since Ella had broken his heart more than a year ago.
“Jeffrey?”
“Ya?” Jeff turned toward his mother’s gentle smile.
“Do you want to talk about what’s bothering you?”
Jeff bit back a sardonic smile. Hadn’t she heard anything he’d said earlier?
“I’m fine, but danki.” He rubbed his hands together. “I’m ready for some of your fantastic steak.”
Jeff entered the kitchen behind his mother and waved a hello to his father and younger brother, Nick, as they sat down at the table. The delicious aroma of steak, potatoes, and freshly baked rolls wafted over him, causing his stomach to gurgle with delight.
“We were wondering if you were going to join us.” Nick grinned as he sat across from Jeff. At twenty-four, Nick was four years younger than Jeff, and he’d inherited the same dark hair and eyes from Mamm as Jeff had. Jeff thought again about how he secretly envied Nick’s straight hair that didn’t seem to protest attempts to brush and comb it into submission.
“Jeff was busy trying to get a kaffi stain out of his shirt.” Mamm set the shirt on the counter and then took her seat across from Dat. “A maedel bumped into him at the market and spilled his entire cup of kaffi, most of it on him.”
“Oh really?” Nick’s smile transformed into a smirk. “Who was the maedel?”
Jeff closed his eyes. Why had he shared the coffee story with Mamm?
“Let’s pray,” Dat announced.
They all bowed their heads in silent prayer. When every head had lifted, they filled their plates with the delicious food.
“So who was the maedel?” Nick asked again as he passed the basket of rolls. “Was she schee?”
Ya. She was.
Jeff shoved the thought away as he swiped a roll. “I don’t know who she was. She was talking to Bethany Gingerich and Bethany’s cousins when I went into the Coffee Corner.”
“What did you say to provoke her?” Nick chuckled.
“I didn’t say anything to her. It was just an accident. But I had to deal with strange looks from customers all day.”
Nick guffawed, and Jeff fought the smile that threatened to overtake his lips. He had to admit it was kind of funny.
“So was she schee?” Nick asked again.
Jeff shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t even know her.” He cut his steak and racked his brain for a way to change the subject.
“You don’t need to know a maedel to decide if she’s attractive,” Nick said. “You should have found out her name.”
“I know her name.” The response leapt from Jeff’s lips without any forethought.
“What is it?” Nick asked.
Jeff hesitated. If he said her name aloud, Nick would nag him relentlessly until Jeff found out more about her or even asked her out on a date. He didn’t need to be harangued about finding someone to replace Ella. He wasn’t ready to move on or trust anyone else with his heart.
“That’s enough, Nicholas,” Dat said, and Jeff swallowed a sigh of relief. “Did you sell a lot of items today?”
“Only a few.” Jeff shook his head. “But there’s always tomorrow.”
“That’s right.” Dat smiled and pointed his fork at him.
Jeff always appreciated his parents’ upbeat attitude no matter what troubles they encountered. It was their optimism that had prompted Jeff to open the booth at the market after Ella had broken their engagement. They had encouraged him to move forward and try something new as a way to repair his heart. Although he enjoyed his new business venture, his heart was still in shambles. This hobby was his solace, and he was grateful his grandfather had taught him how to create wood and leather crafts when he was younger, but sales weren’t what Jeff had hoped they would be. In fact, if his sales didn’t improve soon, he wouldn’t be able to pay his booth rent and he’d have to close it down.
The notion was almost too much to bear. He couldn’t process the thought of failing at something again so soon after losing Ella. Was he goi
ng to spend the rest of his life living as a failure?
“I ran into mei freind Miriam at the market today,” Mamm began. “She said her mamm is feeling much better after that terrible bout of pneumonia.”
As Jeff turned his thoughts toward everyone else’s news, he felt his shoulders relax. He couldn’t allow himself to worry about his booth right now. Somehow, God would see him through this season. He’d just keep praying for better sales so he could keep his business afloat.
* * *
“Gude mariye!” Phoebe greeted their cousins as she and Christiana stepped into the Coffee Corner booth the next morning.
“Hey there!” Bethany waved Christiana and Phoebe over to their table. “What a wunderbaar surprise.” She hopped off her stool and pulled a fifth stool over to the table. “Would you both like kaffi and a donut?”
“Ya, please,” Phoebe said. “What’s your special flavor today?”
Bethany beamed. “Almond.”
Phoebe clapped. “Yum! I’ll help you, Bethany.”
“Danki.” Bethany smiled as they headed toward the counter.
Salina scooted her chair closer to Christiana. “Did you talk to your dat?”
“I did.” Christiana couldn’t stop her smile. “It took some convincing, but he approved my moving my business here.”
“That’s fantastic!”
“How did you convince him?” Leanna asked. “Oh, wait until Bethany gets back to tell us.”
When Bethany and Phoebe returned, Christiana explained what happened.
“Did you ask that woman to come to the haus during supper?” Bethany asked, joking.
“No, but it would’ve been a great plan.” Christiana handed Bethany money for the coffee and donuts. “I’m so excited. I need to go talk to the manager.” She sipped her coffee and then took a bite of her chocolate donut.
“What are you going to call your booth?” Leanna asked.
“I’m thinking of calling it the Bake Shop.” Christiana bit her lip while she waited to see if her cousins approved.
“I love it.” Bethany held up her coffee cup. “Let’s all toast the Bake Shop.”
“Ya!” Phoebe said as they touched their coffee cups.
“It’s going to be wunderbaar to be able to see each other every week at the market,” Salina said.
“You need to let me come and work with you too,” Phoebe said.
“Only if Mamm says it’s okay. Remember, you promised to help with my chores,” Christiana said, reminding her of their plan.
“But there will be a price for that.” Phoebe grinned. “I get to come and help occasionally.”
“I guess that’s fair,” Christiana said, and everyone laughed. Then she felt as if someone might be watching her, and when she turned toward the booth entrance, there stood Jeff, looking at them. Her mouth dried as heat crept up her neck.
He nodded at her, and she cleared her throat and looked down at the table.
“Jeff!” Bethany waved at him. “How are you?”
“I’m well.” Jeff approached their table and divided a look between them all. “Gude mariye.”
Christiana’s cousins and sister greeted him while she longed to crawl under the table and hide. But when Jeff smiled, Christiana felt the tension in her neck release slightly. He had a really nice smile, and he seemed to be in higher spirits today. But she still noticed a hint of sadness in his eyes. Plus, he’d been rude to her yesterday.
“Would you like kaffi and a donut as usual?” Bethany stood and walked to the counter with him. “Today’s special flavor is almond.”
“I’d love kaffi and a donut. Almond sounds perfect,” Jeff said. “That’s the best way to start my day.”
“As long as Christiana doesn’t spill your kaffi on you,” Leanna muttered, and Salina snorted.
“Is he the guy?” Phoebe’s question was a little too loud.
“Shh,” Christiana hissed. “I’m already embarrassed enough.” She glanced at Jeff, looking over her shoulder.
Is it too late to run out of here?
“Ya, that’s the guy,” Salina whispered. “And his booth is next to the one that’s vacant.”
“I know!” Phoebe chortled.
Christiana covered her face with her hands.
“Have a gut day,” she heard Bethany say.
Christiana uncovered her face as Jeff moved past them, his eyes locking with hers before he exited the booth.
“Did you have to embarrass me like that?” Christiana glared at them all, but they chuckled.
“We were just teasing you, Christiana. It was all in fun,” Salina said. “Besides, he smiled at you. I don’t think he’s holding the spill against you.”
“He’s handsome.” Phoebe’s smile was bright.
“Who’s handsome?” Bethany climbed onto the stool beside her.
“Jeff.” Phoebe nodded toward the entrance to the booth. “He’s really handsome, and he smiled at Christiana.”
“Can we please talk about something else?” Christiana moaned.
“So, when are you going to talk to Kent Dobson about the booth?” Leanna asked. “He’s the manager of the marketplace.”
Christiana felt the muscles in her neck relax as she smiled at her oldest cousin. “I was going to go talk to him after I finished mei kaffi.”
“Gut. You need to snatch up that booth before someone else does.” Salina held up her cup. “Here’s to our cousin joining us at the Bird-in-Hand market.”
“Hear, hear,” Bethany said.
Christiana touched her cup to her cousins’ and sister’s cups and smiled. She couldn’t wait to get her booth set up. She just hoped no one else had already rented it.
3
“The previous renter sold knickknacks, and she left all her shelving and the counter.” Kent Dobson gestured around the large booth with hands that made her guess he was in his mid to late forties—that and his graying brown hair. “I think you’d have plenty of room for your baked goods.”
“I agree.” Christiana poised her pen in her right hand and held a notepad in the other, ready to take more notes. “Would it be possible for me to set up a little propane oven to bake cookies during the day?”
Kent rubbed his chin as he gazed around the booth. Then he nodded. “I don’t see why not.”
“Great. I’d love to keep up with my inventory. If I can bake during the day, I might not run out as quickly as I do with my bake stand. Plus, I’d like to have the warm aroma of baking cookies in the booth all the time. Customers would probably enjoy that.” Christiana made another note on her pad. “This is perfect. I’ll be able to spread out and have more room for all my baked goods than I do now.”
“That’s a good point.” Phoebe fluttered around the booth, inspecting all the shelves. “We could create a cookie section here and then put all your pies over there.” She pointed as she talked. “And your cakes could go over there. This is going to be so great.” She turned to Christiana. “You have to ask Dat to make you a sign that says The Bake Shop.” She looked down and clicked her tongue. “Well, hi there.”
Christiana glanced over in time to see Phoebe rub a gray tabby’s head.
“That’s our market cat. Her name is Daisy.” Kent held up his hands as he looked at Christiana. “I hope you’re not allergic to cats.”
“No, I’m not. And I’ve met her before. She likes to visit my cousins at their booths.” Christiana bent and scratched behind the cat’s ears.
Daisy purred and closed her eyes in response. Then the cat stood and stretched before sauntering out of the booth.
“Daisy acts like she owns the place. She makes her rounds and naps in certain booths. Many of the vendors keep snacks for her. I have a bed and a litter box for her in a little room outside my office.” Kent clapped his hands. “So do you want to rent the booth?”
“Yes, I do. Thank you.” Christiana tilted her head as she looked up at the man. “How much is the rent again?”
Christiana took more no
tes as they discussed the rental rate and other details about the market.
“How does all that sound?” Kent asked.
“Perfect.” She signed the contract he handed her and then looked around the booth. “May I move in tomorrow?”
“Of course. I’d hoped to add an authentic Amish bakery to our market.” Kent shook her hand. “We’re happy to have you here. I think you’ll be very successful.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you have any more questions for me?” he asked. She shook her head. “All right, then. I’m going to head back to my office. Please stop by anytime.” With that, Kent left the booth.
Christiana made a list of supplies she’d need to set up her booth the next day. She was noting one last item when she heard Phoebe speak.
“Hi, I’m Phoebe Kurtz. Mei schweschder, Christiana, is moving her baked goods business here,” Phoebe said. “She makes the best kichlin and kuchen in the county.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” a man’s voice said. “I’m Jeff Stoltzfus. I run the booth next door.”
Christiana craned her neck to peer over her shoulder at Phoebe and Jeff as they shook hands.
“You have some really cool gifts over there,” Phoebe said. “I remember noticing them the last time I was strolling around the market. You’re so talented.”
“Danki.” He gave her a slight shrug and then turned to Christiana. “Hi. We haven’t formally met. I’m Jeff.” He held out his hand.
Christiana set her notepad and pen on a shelf and then shook his hand. “Hi. I’m Christiana, but I guess you know that. Again, I’m so sorry about your shirt. Were you able to get the stain out?”
“You don’t need to apologize again.” His expression was pleasant. “Mei mamm decided to work on the stain herself, so I’m sure it’s already gone.” He nodded toward Phoebe. “I heard you’re going to open up a booth here and that your baked goods are well worth buying. Welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Danki,” Christiana said.
“Don’t worry,” Phoebe said. “She’s not going to sell kaffi.”
Phoebe chortled, and Christiana bit back a groan. She loved her sister, but why did she have to humiliate her?